Our Story

Our farmers are the first to admit that being a dairy farmer isn’t always easy. But they’ll also tell you they wouldn’t dream of doing anything else. And when you see where they work and live, it’s easy to see why. The lush green pastures and rolling hills of Northern New South Wales, Australia has been our home since 1895, when a bunch of enterprising dairy farmers started the North Coast Co-operative. Named after its breathtaking surrounds, the North Coast Co-operative was later shortened to become Norco.

We’ve been producing authentic Australian dairy products for over a century

1897

NORCO opened its first depot at Murwillumbah and processed cream into butter

1898

Depot opened at Casino beside the Richmond River allowing easier navigation for seas going ships to navigate inland along the river

1900

NORCO opened its first branch factory at Lismore

1904

The original company was voluntarily liquidated and sold to a new company called the North Coast Co-operative Limited

1925

On the 15th of December 1925, the North Coast Co-operative Company officially altered it's name to NORCO Co-operative Limited

1932

A new factory was opened in Murwillumbah and the old factory was leased to the Banana Growers Federation

1986

In 1986, NORCO reached a key milestone, achieveing sales in excess of $100 Million

1989

The Logan and Albert Dairying Co-operative, situated at Beaudesert Queensland, was purchased by NORCO

1991

1995

2015

On the 5th of June, NORCO celebrated 120 years in business, making it one of the oldest dairy co-operatives in Australia

1895

On the 5th of June 1895, the North Coast Fresh Food & Cold Storage Co-operative Company Ltd (NORCO) began operations at Byron Bay (NSW)

Surely though, a good-looking landscape can’t be the only reason our farmers are throwing on their well worn gumboots every morning. Of course not, they’re not crazy, but they are passionate. Most of them are second and third generation Norco dairy farmers, working to support their families, their communities, and to keep their family legacy alive. Jim Allard is a third generation dairy farmer who left to work in the mines, but the pull of the farm was too strong and he returned to take on the family dairy farm — and he couldn’t be happier,

“I’m back where I should be. It’s a great life. It’s hard work but you get out what you put in.” — Jim Allard, Burringbar NSW

Getting out what you put in is exactly what we’re all about. As one of Australia’s last and only 100% Aussie farmer-owned dairy co-operatives, our network of over 300 members reap what they sow. We’ll let one of our farmers Leigh explain “Your co-op works for your farmers — everything you put into it is actually staying in the community. So when you buy a bottle of Norco-branded milk, you are 100% supporting Norco dairy farmers — you’re recognising the value of that.” That’s powerful stuff.

“Your co-op works for your farmers — everything you put into it is actually staying in the community. So when you buy a bottle of Norco-branded milk, you are 100% supporting Norco dairy farmers — you’re recognising the value of that.”

Leigh Shearman, Goolmangar NSW

Leigh is also a member of our Board. In fact, our Board is made up entirely of, you guessed it, Norco dairy farmers. We figure that no one knows the business better than the people whose families have been doing it for generations. It ensures the welfare and success of our farmers, their communities and, Australia’s dairy industry. And the best bit? Muddy boots are always welcome in the boardroom.

Now, with farmers as proud and passionate as ours, raising cows in a place as lush and serene as Northern New South Wales and South East Queensland, the results were always going to be pretty special. So for the last 120-odd years, we’ve been producing the best quality dairy products around, and we’ve got the awards to prove it.

Awards are great, but for us, it’s about keeping our legacy alive and strong. Perhaps, we’ll leave the last words to Jim’s wife, Debbie, “When people make the decision to buy Norco milk, they’re supporting the local farmers, they’re supporting our families — it keeps us going.”

When people make the decision to buy Norco milk, they’re supporting the local farmers, they’re supporting our families — it keeps us going